The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

'The man of many characters', actor Neil Gore, presents an Edwardian Magic Show using Magic Lantern and projected animation, with political conjuring tricks and live music and song.

Image: Tara Theatre

Overview

Genre:
Drama

Venue:
Tara Theatre

Started: Wednesday 24 October 2018

Closed: Saturday 27 October 2018

Running time:1 hr 20 mins

Age suitability:
Not available

Synopsis

'The man of many characters', actor Neil Gore, presents an Edwardian Magic Show using Magic Lantern and projected animation, with political conjuring tricks and live music and song, based on the classic novel The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.

Robert Tressell's novel about life in the building trades was first published over 100 years ago, and was barely noticed.

Since then, in one edition after another, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists has been passed from hand to hand, and won itself a place not only in the folklore of working people, but also in literary history as the first authentic English working-class novel.

In this entertaining one-man show we meet the familiar characters from the book; participate in the famous Great Money Trick; enjoy the scenes, speeches, and songs that trace "twelve months in hell" as the painters and decorators struggle to maintain themselves and families through hard work, poverty, and the constant fear of unemployment, whilst renovating a large town-house for the local mayor - Mayor Sweater.